New Arrival Shows Up at Barnes and Noble in Torrance

TORRANCE (CNS) - A baby boy was born tonight in the Barnes & Noble store in Torrance.

The baby was born shortly after 7:30 p.m. in the lobby of the story in the Del Amo Fashion Center, said Torrance Fire Department Capt. Steve Deuel.

“Our firefighters responded to a call of a woman in labor at the book store,” Deuel said. “They were getting her ready to load up into the ambulance when they discovered the baby wasn't going to wait. So they unloaded her and delivered the baby boy in the store's lobby.”

Deuel said the mother and child were taken to a hospital after the birth and both are doing well.

“It's not that common anymore for us to deliver babies,” Deuel said.

“Most people make it to the hospital on time but our paramedics are trained for this and can do it.”

Deuel said the previous most recent baby delivered by his department's firefighters was several months ago.

A manager at the Barnes & Noble store where the birth occurred said he could not comment on anything concerning the birth because it was company policy that store employees never talk to the news media. There was no immediate response to a message left with Barnes & Noble corporate headquarters in New York City after the close of usual business hours.